Jun 19 2012
The 10 “Whys,” to Keep You Going
I talked to someone last week who suddenly lost her job.
Not knowing what else to do, she decided to offer consulting as a way to bring in some cash while she looked for another job.
She discovered what a lot of you already know; it’s not that easy to just get those clients.
She wanted help to make this happen easily. I so wish there was a map to that magic road to success!
After talking with me she began to get it that it is a full time job to look for a job and another over full time job to begin a business. She needed to make a decision.
Regardless of your own situation you have also needed to make that decision because developing a business is all about investing in the long term. It helps to have a clear, “Why,” because getting a business going is just too hard without that clarity.
Here are a few questions to ponder.
Look at the list and notice which ones you identify with. If you’re helping people with your service and using your skill, you want to be doing just that, whether it is coaching, healing, developing, designing or teaching.
However, in order to develop a sustainable business, it requires you to wear many hats and to step into roles you may feel very unequipped for. This can bring up huge issues and make you feel like quitting some days.
What is the big reason that will keep you going?
In a way you have to be driven, otherwise it is much easier to have a job.
Look at these statements below and notice where you feel a strong YES. Notice which ones make you feel uncomfortable. You want to:
___ Take something from the very beginning and develop it.
___ Understand the financial side of business.
___ Earn enough money to invest and/or give away.
___ Develop a team and manage people.
___ Develop multiple income streams.
___ Develop your expertise and a name for yourself.
___ Experience the personal achievement of success.
Likely you said yes to some of the above statements and a few that make you feel anxious and unsure.
The important thing is to get the support you need to help you when that self-doubt creeps in.
Would you add anything else to the above list? What is your big why?
4 Responses to “The 10 “Whys,” to Keep You Going”
Knowing the “why” is essential to sticking with starting a business. I attended one of your calls a couple years ago in which you said it takes about five years to get a business going – so depressing and so true!
Starting a business feels to me a little like having kids, it’s only once you are in the middle of it that you realize just how difficult it really is.
My big why started when I was a teen and took care of kids whose parents were attending Parents Anonymous meetings. The parents were trying to stop abusing their kids. Those kids were frightened and acted out in so many ways. They all really deserved so much better treatment.
I promised myself that I would do something to help parents so that they didn’t end up abusing their kids. This is why I started Priceless Parenting and it’s sustained me through the first five years.
Hi Kaya
Thank you for bringing us these wonderful nuggets to contemplate. My big Why I do what I do:
I can’t not do it.
I.E. if I didn’t do what I am doing I would wither and die.
As usual Kaya, you got to the heart of the issue:) I loved your list of why’s and see myself in many of them as a big Yes! Great reflection in the two that I felt a tad sour about. I would like to add that my WHY is to be of service in some sort of fun way.
There is so much to do do help the world as a social entrepreneur. Just last night I was doing some research and seeing companies like SKOLL and started that crappy comparison story…”they are making such an impact on so many, how do my plans and dreams help in any significant way?”.
That’s when I had to reconnect to my WHY and deeply know that it’s just as significant in it’s own creative way, and that EVERYTHING done with our hearts and souls intention counts. If a WHY originates from those places, even if it’s making oodles of money in order to be philanthropic ( one of my goals) then it’s ALL GOOD and we can trust that the world needs our WHY:)
Thanks Kaya for the boost today!
Thanks Suzanne, Kathy and Michelle! I love what you all shared. Huge YES!